Old School Clex Recs
I know these are old and brilliant, so they’ve probably been recced hundreds of times by now. But they’re my favourites and the idea that someone may have missed them makes me sad.
Most of them are future fics set after the rift because I prefer happy endings. I hope you enjoy them.
Conflicts of Interest by Pru, aka rageprufrock
Rating: R
Author’s Summary: In which Clark is a not-so-mild-mannered reporter, Lex is a biological fugitive, and someone is mold.
Why you should read it: Conner Luthor is a precocious eight year old protagonist without being annoying. That alone is amazing. Lex won’t talk about his mother so he goes on a quest to find out more about her from reporter Clark Kent. It is so adorable and you should definitely check it out now if you haven’t already.
Reconcilable Differences by astolat
Rating: None given, I’d say Rish
Author’s Summary: Luthor Family Values.
Why you should read it: Another Conner Luthor fic (only this time he’s Kon). Lex decides to take more interest in his son’s life and, by default, Clark’s as well. Kon is a funny, bratty teenager and the family dynamics are predictably crazy:
"I'm just a clone," Kon said. "You guys didn't ask for me to be made. The Cadmus Labs people just wanted a freaking superweapon."
"My parents didn't ask to have an alien dropped on their heads," Clark said. "It worked out okay."
Somewhere I Have Never Travelled by Jenn, aka seperis
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: Clark decides on a change of lifestyle. Lex decides on a change in the status quo. And the world's doomed.
Why you should read it: Clark becomes human, and while on the show that would be the end, here it just makes things more interesting. It shows Clark’s smart side because he actually has to think in order to foil Lex instead of getting his way by force. This makes him more heroic than he ever could be with powers, IMO.
Identical by Lanning Cook aka lanning
Rating: None given, it varies from story to story
Author’s Summary: None
Why you should read it: Lionel decides that Lex is “an unsuitable heir”. So he makes a clone (as you do). Lex hides out with the Kents until he can take his life back. Interesting look at what would have happened if the Kents had really treated Lex like family. This series made me like Jonathan Kent and I hate him on the show. Lots of really sweet Clex exchanges:
"I'm not burying my-- Do you have cricket issues or something?"
"Not particularly. But I've read that story and it isn't pretty."
"Pinocchio isn't pretty?"
"Pinocchio is a sociopath."
"Uh-huh."
"He kills the cricket in chapter four."
Clark paused briefly to wonder exactly what was in the pills Toby had left. "He kills the cricket?"
"Oh, yes. And then he goes right on making an omelet like nothing happened."
Omiai by toomuchplor
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: A long story about Froot Loops, celery salt, dorkdom, and -- oh yeah -- marriage.
Why you should read it: A modern marriage of convenience. Lex needs the trust fund his mother bequeathed him to float LexCorp but there’s a catch; the money will only be payed if he gets married and stays that way for a year. Clark agrees to become his husband for that time if he’ll pay Clark’s college fees. Then it gets complicated. Long, entertaining fic, with cosy domestic scenes and interesting twists.
Lex's smile spread a little wider. He prodded at the mess on the stove, then asked, "Do you think peas would make this taste better?"
Clark eyed the bubbling substance, which seemed about to take its revenge on its creator. "You know, I hate peas. So it's not a good thing when I say 'yes'."
"Extra cheese," Lex said simply, with a final prod. "But it might be a while before this smell dissipates, so maybe we should go out for pizza and leave all the windows open. Bring your C.V. and samples ... we'll make it a dinner meeting. Then I can write it off as a business expense."
Frantic (Or the day there were no pork chops) by Jenn, aka seperis
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: In which Clark does not get dinner. And then everything goes downhill.
Why you should read it: Cracktastic fun, it had me hooked from the opening line. Lex Luthor and Clark Kent have come back from Metropolis to visit Smallville at the same time. And then there is sentient goo. (Psst, don’t forget the sequel, Son of the Goo by svmadelyn. It’s gold.)
It Happened One Weekend by mahaliem
Rating: R
Author’s Summary: Kal-El has become engaged to a woman that his father doesn't approve of. Running away to Metropolis, he meets Lex Luthor. Lex seizes the opportunity to have one of the aliens beholden to him and volunteers to help Kal.
Why you should read it: It really does have that charming old movie feel to it, complete with romantic banter. Kal-El is an ingénue without being a total moron and Lex is opportunistic without scheming. There are a couple of well-natured digs at DC mythos too (see: Possum Power).
There is also this:
"I wouldn't have to run your life if you didn't get involved with people like Lana Lang. I thought for sure giving her another technological patent would shut her up about her parents, but she's still yapping about it."
"She's suffered," Kal-El shouted.
"And she's passing the suffering on," Jor-El shouted back.
Wabbit Hunting, by supacat.
Rating: None given, I’d say PGish
Author’s Summary: Kryptonite turns Clark (or Superman) into a bunny. Lex grabs his gun and goes wabbit hunting.
Why you should read it: You read the summary right? Fine: Lex dubs Superman “Bunnykins”.
If that doesn’t make you want to read it, then I can’t help you.
Black Pond by Viridian5
Rating: PG
Author’s Summary: When Clark and Lex go fishing, we're there with them.
Why you should read it: Clark and Lex are innocently fishing when a fish falls in love with Lex. A jealous fish.
The narration is fun and different and breaks the fourth wall at appropriate moments:
Perhaps you're scoffing at this very moment. Fish that talk and plan and breathe air. Impossible. Thus you prove yourself to be a stranger to these parts and too ignorant to be left to wander willy-nilly on your own. You might get hurt.
Bear with me, I'm having formatting trouble.
Most of them are future fics set after the rift because I prefer happy endings. I hope you enjoy them.
Conflicts of Interest by Pru, aka rageprufrock
Rating: R
Author’s Summary: In which Clark is a not-so-mild-mannered reporter, Lex is a biological fugitive, and someone is mold.
Why you should read it: Conner Luthor is a precocious eight year old protagonist without being annoying. That alone is amazing. Lex won’t talk about his mother so he goes on a quest to find out more about her from reporter Clark Kent. It is so adorable and you should definitely check it out now if you haven’t already.
Reconcilable Differences by astolat
Rating: None given, I’d say Rish
Author’s Summary: Luthor Family Values.
Why you should read it: Another Conner Luthor fic (only this time he’s Kon). Lex decides to take more interest in his son’s life and, by default, Clark’s as well. Kon is a funny, bratty teenager and the family dynamics are predictably crazy:
"I'm just a clone," Kon said. "You guys didn't ask for me to be made. The Cadmus Labs people just wanted a freaking superweapon."
"My parents didn't ask to have an alien dropped on their heads," Clark said. "It worked out okay."
Somewhere I Have Never Travelled by Jenn, aka seperis
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: Clark decides on a change of lifestyle. Lex decides on a change in the status quo. And the world's doomed.
Why you should read it: Clark becomes human, and while on the show that would be the end, here it just makes things more interesting. It shows Clark’s smart side because he actually has to think in order to foil Lex instead of getting his way by force. This makes him more heroic than he ever could be with powers, IMO.
Identical by Lanning Cook aka lanning
Rating: None given, it varies from story to story
Author’s Summary: None
Why you should read it: Lionel decides that Lex is “an unsuitable heir”. So he makes a clone (as you do). Lex hides out with the Kents until he can take his life back. Interesting look at what would have happened if the Kents had really treated Lex like family. This series made me like Jonathan Kent and I hate him on the show. Lots of really sweet Clex exchanges:
"I'm not burying my-- Do you have cricket issues or something?"
"Not particularly. But I've read that story and it isn't pretty."
"Pinocchio isn't pretty?"
"Pinocchio is a sociopath."
"Uh-huh."
"He kills the cricket in chapter four."
Clark paused briefly to wonder exactly what was in the pills Toby had left. "He kills the cricket?"
"Oh, yes. And then he goes right on making an omelet like nothing happened."
Omiai by toomuchplor
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: A long story about Froot Loops, celery salt, dorkdom, and -- oh yeah -- marriage.
Why you should read it: A modern marriage of convenience. Lex needs the trust fund his mother bequeathed him to float LexCorp but there’s a catch; the money will only be payed if he gets married and stays that way for a year. Clark agrees to become his husband for that time if he’ll pay Clark’s college fees. Then it gets complicated. Long, entertaining fic, with cosy domestic scenes and interesting twists.
Lex's smile spread a little wider. He prodded at the mess on the stove, then asked, "Do you think peas would make this taste better?"
Clark eyed the bubbling substance, which seemed about to take its revenge on its creator. "You know, I hate peas. So it's not a good thing when I say 'yes'."
"Extra cheese," Lex said simply, with a final prod. "But it might be a while before this smell dissipates, so maybe we should go out for pizza and leave all the windows open. Bring your C.V. and samples ... we'll make it a dinner meeting. Then I can write it off as a business expense."
Frantic (Or the day there were no pork chops) by Jenn, aka seperis
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Summary: In which Clark does not get dinner. And then everything goes downhill.
Why you should read it: Cracktastic fun, it had me hooked from the opening line. Lex Luthor and Clark Kent have come back from Metropolis to visit Smallville at the same time. And then there is sentient goo. (Psst, don’t forget the sequel, Son of the Goo by svmadelyn. It’s gold.)
It Happened One Weekend by mahaliem
Rating: R
Author’s Summary: Kal-El has become engaged to a woman that his father doesn't approve of. Running away to Metropolis, he meets Lex Luthor. Lex seizes the opportunity to have one of the aliens beholden to him and volunteers to help Kal.
Why you should read it: It really does have that charming old movie feel to it, complete with romantic banter. Kal-El is an ingénue without being a total moron and Lex is opportunistic without scheming. There are a couple of well-natured digs at DC mythos too (see: Possum Power).
There is also this:
"I wouldn't have to run your life if you didn't get involved with people like Lana Lang. I thought for sure giving her another technological patent would shut her up about her parents, but she's still yapping about it."
"She's suffered," Kal-El shouted.
"And she's passing the suffering on," Jor-El shouted back.
Wabbit Hunting, by supacat.
Rating: None given, I’d say PGish
Author’s Summary: Kryptonite turns Clark (or Superman) into a bunny. Lex grabs his gun and goes wabbit hunting.
Why you should read it: You read the summary right? Fine: Lex dubs Superman “Bunnykins”.
If that doesn’t make you want to read it, then I can’t help you.
Black Pond by Viridian5
Rating: PG
Author’s Summary: When Clark and Lex go fishing, we're there with them.
Why you should read it: Clark and Lex are innocently fishing when a fish falls in love with Lex. A jealous fish.
The narration is fun and different and breaks the fourth wall at appropriate moments:
Perhaps you're scoffing at this very moment. Fish that talk and plan and breathe air. Impossible. Thus you prove yourself to be a stranger to these parts and too ignorant to be left to wander willy-nilly on your own. You might get hurt.
Bear with me, I'm having formatting trouble.